Just what would happen if a military
robot was set loose in America before all its kinks could
be worked out. In Short Circuit this is the scenario that
plays out in the film. The film begins with a test before
military brass of a new series of military robots with
laser weapons. The robots are wheeled machines, feature a
laser powered weapon, and can follow commands without
question. Is this to be the future of war some wonder?

During
the tests of these machines, one of them is struck by
lightening and damaged. This machine is known as number 5
for its order of creation. Somehow after being struck by
lightening number 5 becomes drawn to travel the world and
leave behind his fellow robots. The robot finally makes
it to the home of a girl that sells ice cream in a truck
for a living. The actress playing this girl is Ally
Sheedy the same actress that played the basketcase in The
Breakfast Club.

At first the ice cream girl thinks that the robot is
an alien life form. But finally she sees information in
english on the robot and she comes to her senses. But
just what is this robot and where is it from she wonders?
Number 5 queries his female compaion for information and
"input." Flipping through books at hundreds of
pages a minute the machine gobbles up everything it can.
It watches TV and learns about popular culture and even
about death. The machine wrecks havoc in public as it
reads every book in site.

On the trail of number 5 are its creator and his doopy
Indian assistant that can never get his english sayings
right. By the movie's end number 5 has outwitted his
fellow machines, and his creator his fallen in love with
the girl that taught number 5 the ways of the world. The
movie is best classifed as a Sci-fi comedy for kids but
its funny for kids of all ages. The movie was followed by
a sequel in which the creator's assitant tries to make it
in the free market world. Number 5 spoils the plans of a
den of theieves and a factory is used to turn out little
toy number 5's.